By LEONARD OKACHIE

Gov. Alex Otti of Abia says the state government would collaborate with the South East Development Commission (SEDC), to deliver the Michael Okpara regional-impact initiative in agriculture.

He made this known on Friday while declaring open the Founder?s Day and Second Dr Michael Iheonukara Okpara Lecture Series organised by the Michael Okpara University of Agriculture, Umudike (MOUAU).

The governor said that his administration drew inspiration from Okpara?s legacy in striving to guarantee food security and economic development of the state.

The News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) reports that late Okpara, a medical doctor, made agriculture a top priority while he was the Premier of the defunct Easter Region.

Represented by his Commissioner for Agriculture, Dr Cliff Agbaeze, Oti said his vision was to establish a sustainable, competitive and resilient agricultural sector that would boost food production.

He said that the proposed partnership offered a unique opportunity for SEDC to invest in a scalable and impactful regional agricultural model with long-term socio-economic benefits.

He said: ?As Okpara once demonstrated, our region?s potential for a globally competitive agricultural sector is vast.

?His leadership and vision laid the foundation for an agrarian revolution, economic growth and landmark infrastructural development.?

He emphasised that such collaboration would create space for free enterprise imbued with innovation, where agripreneurs can thrive.

Otti thanked President Bola Tinubu, for graciously assenting to the Bill creating the SEDC and also for appointing Dr Emeka Wogu, as the Chairman of the commission.

He congratulated the Vice Chancellor of MOUAU, Prof. Maduebibisi Iwe and his team for introducing the Dr Michael Iheonukara Okpara biennial lecture.

The Keynote Spea?er and chairman, SEDC, Wogu, extolled Okpara and the revolution he brought to bear on agricultural, industrial and social-political landscape of the Eastern Region.

Wogu, whose thought-provoking lecture was delivered by Prof. Nnamdi Obiareri lauded some of the lessons to be learnt from Okpara?s leadership acumen and orientation.

He said the commission would leverage the commitment of current crop of political leaders across the region to pursue an agenda of revamping the Okpara?s policies for legacy continuity.

In a remark, Austin Akobundu, Senator representing Abia Central District, said that Okpara was a political sage and selfless leader with immeasurable positive impact on humanity.

Akobundu, who was the Chairman of the Occasion, maintained that Okpara was ?an icon of agricultural and industrial revolutions?.

According to him, his legacies would continue to reverberate around the world even long after he has gone.

He commended the vice-chancellor and his team for sustaining the legacies of Okpara through the successful operation of the different faculties in the institution.

The Senator said that he would continue to collaborate with the university and other germane stakeholders.

Speaking, Prof. Iwe said the event was to honour the visionary icon and transformational leader for catapulting the region to becoming the fastest growing economy in Africa during his time.

Iwe acknowledged Dr Michael Okpara Foundation for instituting scholarship for Post Graduate students, adding that the university had enrolled the first five students fully sponsored in her various programmes. (NAN)

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